 Golden Eagle |
Have you heard about the mobile blind for bird photography? It’s a car, truck or van – any of which make a great mobile photo blind. Possibly the best way to photograph birds is from a vehicle.
During a birding trip you brake at the sight of a superbird; you ease into position with the sun at your back, and with a little luck you spend some time photographing the feathered prize – say a Golden Eagle perched on a hefty branch. During a tense moment when the bird may flee or stay, the big adult seems to relax, preens a bit, then something catches its attention. The Golden moves its head intently from side to side, seemingly zeroing in on a movement in the distance.
Suddenly the eagle launches into flight on broad wings and you take a series of photos as the grand bird wings toward potential prey – and you have recorded your shared time in digital splendor. What a remarkable encounter you recall as your heartbeat begins to return to normal. Then you re-start your vehicle, turn the radio back on, the air conditioning kicks in, and you drive away with a big smile on your face in search of the next memorable bird photography opportunity.
A vehicle truly is the perfect photo blind: It’s mobile, has comfortable seats, has plenty of space for a cooler and snack and provides the option of some talk radio or your favorite music along with other accessory options. When you find your next avian subject, you can position with respect to the direction of the sunlight, and rest your telephoto lens on the top of your partly open window, which you can raise or lower depending on the position of the bird(s). With such versatility, I appreciate my mobile photo blind more every field trip!
Article and Photo by Paul Konrad
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